Active Debris Removal: EDDE, the ElectroDynamic Debris Eliminator
- Paper number
IAC-10.A6.4.9
- Author
Mr. Jerome Pearson, Star Technology and Research, Inc., United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Joe Carroll, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Eugene Levin, United States
- Year
2010
- Abstract
We propose a low-cost solution for LEO space debris removal. The ElectroDynamic Debris Eliminator (EDDE) can affordably remove nearly all the 2,465 objects of more than 2 kg that are now in 500-2000 km orbits. They have more than 99% of the total mass, collision area, and debris-generation potential in LEO. EDDE is a propellantless vehicle that reacts against the Earth's magnetic field. EDDE can climb about 200 km/day, decay at 1200 km/day (times the mass ratio of EDDE to EDDE-plus-payload), and change orbit plane at 1.5/day, even in polar orbit. No other electric vehicle can match these rates, much less sustain them for years. Most LEO debris is in a few narrow inclination clusters. After releasing one object, EDDE can climb and torque its orbit to reach another object in a cluster within a few days, while actively avoiding other catalog objects. Binocular imaging allows accurate relative orbit determination from a distance. Capture uses lightweight expendable nets and real-time man-in-the-loop control. After capture, EDDE drags its payload down and releases it and the net into a short-lived orbit safely below ISS. EDDE can sling debris into controlled reentry, or can attach an adjustable drag device to the net before release, to allow later adjustment of payload reentry location. Up to 12 EDDEs can be launched on any EELV with enough unused launch capacity, because two 100-kg EDDEs can share a single ESPA slot. A dozen EDDEs could remove nearly all 2020 tons of LEO orbital debris in 7 years. The estimated overall program cost is $45-110K per object, or $55-130 per kilogram.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-10.A6.4.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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